MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia has no right to hold discussions with Syrian President Bashar Assad regarding his resignation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
"We were guided by this very logic – the logic of international law – when receiving Syrian President Bashar Assad in Moscow. Let’s think how legitimate or ethical would it be if we invited the leader of a friendly state to Moscow and demanded him or her to resign," Putin told Russian and Turkish media ahead of the G20 summit in Antalya.
"Syria is a sovereign country and Bashar Assad is its President elected by the people. So do we have any right to discuss such issues with him? Of course, we do not," the Russian leader stated, adding that "only those who believe in their exceptionality allow themselves to act in such a shameless manner and impose their will on others."
"We hoped at least for the natural in such cases close military and expert coordination with the US led Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, even taking into account all the fundamental differences between the Russian and US approaches to the Syrian crisis," Putin told Russian and Turkish media ahead of the G20 summit in Turkey's Antalya.
"However, the reaction of the United States and Western partners was quite restrained, although it would seem obvious that ISIL and other similar extremist groups operating in Syria represent a clear common threat to our countries," the president continued.
Moscow has thoroughly calculated all potential risks and consequences of Russia's anti-terrorist air campaign in Syria, allocating the necessary resources prior to the start of the operation, Vladimir Putin said.
"Our activities in Syria as well as potential risks and consequences have been carefully calculated many times, and all the resources needed for the operation, both financial and technological, have been allocated in advance," Putin said in an interview with Russian and Turkish media ahead of the G20 summit in Turkey.
"As for the time frame of the operation in Syria, a clear objective is set before the Russian forces – they should provide air support for the Syrian army’s offensive against the terrorists, that is why the duration of stay of our servicemen will be determined solely depending on the time this objective is achieved," Putin stressed.
